Indonesian President concludes Vietnam visit

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his spouse concluded a State visit to Vietnam from September 11-12 at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang.

President Tran Dai Quang welcomed Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a state ceremony in Hanoi on Sep 11. (Photo: VNA)

During the visit, Widodo held talks with President Quang, paid a courtesy call to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Both sides issued a Joint Statement for strengthening bilateral strategic partnership.

During meetings, they expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral strategic partnership with closer trust and links in perse areas, especially in economy, national defence-security, socio-culture and people-to-people exchange.

They agreed to maintain regular exchanges of high-level visits and offer many opportunities to share views on strategic issues via bilateral mechanisms and consultation, including the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation; reinforce legal assistance within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on Legal and Judicial Cooperation signed in 2017, including sharing experience in legal enforcement, administrative reform and anti-corruption.

Leaders reaffirmed the importance of joint work to fight trans-national crimes such as drug and human trafficking, terrorism, cyber crimes and money laundering.

They again committed to working closely and effectively together to protect each country’s national security interests.

The two sides agreed to implement stronger measures to increase bilateral trade, including removal of unnecessary trade barriers and measures which are inconsistent with international and regional trade rules and norms, and provide broader market access for two countries’ goods and services.

The leaders tasked the relevant ministries to conduct a review on the 1990 Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the governments of Vietnam and Indonesia.

They agreed to ensure a conducive trade and investment climate through the consistent implementation of national policies and regulations and tasked the relevant ministries to find solutions for the obstacles faced by the business people.

They agreed to further foster cooperation in the energy sector and encourage the active participation of state-run and private enterprises from both sides in the oil and gas exploration and production, refinery industry and services.

They also agreed to increase the air and sea connectivity of the two countries to ease the movement of goods and people. Indonesia took note of Vietnam’s request for the exchange of experience in inland waterway transportation.

To cope with the challenges of the industrial revolution 4.0, the leaders will promote innovation through enhancing joint research, capacity building on Intellectual Property (IP), and technical assistance and training of IP professionals.

The leaders agreed to continue implementing the 2017 memorandum of understanding on Education Cooperation and to expand cooperation in education and training through, among others, exchanges of teachers and students.

They acknowledged and encouraged further contribution of the Vietnam - Indonesia Friendship Association and Indonesia - Vietnam Friendship Association to enhance the relations between private sectors as well as people of the two countries.

President Joko Widodo together with his spouse and Indonesian Ministers visit to put wreaths at the Monument of Heroes of Martyrs at Bac Son statue and the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi)

Both sides shared convergence of views on various regional and international issues. They agreed to continue to work closely to address global and regional challenges, including transnational crimes, climate change, natural disaster risks, food - water - energy security nexus, among others.

They reaffirmed their support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and welcomed the continued improving cooperation between ASEAN and China and were encouraged by the progress of the substantive negotiation towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

On the occasions, Vietnam and Indonesia signed the Plan of Action for the Implementation of Strategic Partnership between the two countries (2019-2023) and the Joint Communiqué on Voluntary International Cooperation to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and to Promote Sustainable Fisheries Governance./.

VNF/VNA